WASHINGTON, DC, June 4, 2013 –Dave Tenny, President and CEO, National Alliance of Forest Owners, released the following statement thanking Members of Congress for urging House Ways and Means Committee leadership to preserve the timberland tax provisions in any tax reform effort. A strong bipartisan letter signed by 80 Members of Congress representing 26 states throughout the country was sent to Committee leadership today.

“We thank Congressman Dan Benishek (R-1-MI), Terri Sewell (D-7-AL), Austin Scott (R-8-GA) and Kurt Schrader (D-5-OR) for leading this effort that gained support from across the political spectrum and a wide variety of geographic areas of the country in recognition that these timberland tax provisions remain good, practical policy.

“This strong bipartisan support reflects the value Members of Congress place on our private forests and their many economic, environmental and social contributions to society.

“As the House Ways and Means Committee considers updating the tax code, we urge committee leaders to join their colleagues who signed the letter in support of tax provisions that enable private forest owners to sustain 2.4 million good paying jobs, contribute to economic recovery in rural communities, clean the water and the air, create wildlife habitat, and provide hunting, fishing and other outdoor recreation opportunities in all corners of the country.

“Private forest owners make substantial good faith investments every day and incur substantial ongoing risk as they wait patiently to harvest their trees 20 to 80 years in the future. The timberland tax provisions help make this investment horizon economically viable. By doing so, they help maintain our private forest legacy for future generations to enjoy.

“Our nation’s 22 million forest owners thank their friends in Congress for this effort and look forward to working with them to preserve the timberland tax provisions and keep America on the forefront of sustainable, long-term private forest management.”